Friday, April 30, 2010

Oil company sponsors British 'political' Documentary Awards

I am shocked that Shell Oil sponsor the Grierson 2010: The British Documentary Awards which recognise films that demonstrate integrity, originality, technical excellence and social or cultural significance.

All categories are open to documentaries made anywhere in the worldso long as they have had a first UK screening during the qualifyingperiod, 1 May 2009 - 30 April 2010.

The award categories are:Shell International Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue-A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which reflects the Grierson tradition of social or political documentary on a contemporary theme.

Now Shell are implicated in the death of poet, film maker and activist Ken Saro Wiwa so what would happen if i entered a film about Shells involvement in Nigeria I wonder?It wouldn't get a look in! Grierson awards should be ashamed of accepting Shell blood money

A shortlist of eight entries for each category will be announced on 3August 2010 and the final four nominations in each category on 17September 2010. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremonyat the BFI Southbank in London on the evening of 2 November 2010.http://www.griersontrust.org/

I wrote to them to show my disgust..you can to via hereDear Grierson trusteesAs a documentary maker, I am shocked that Shell Oil has been allowed to sponsor the British Documentary Awards.

Shell are implicated in the death of poet, activist Ken Saro Wiwa . Last year the oil giant Shell agreed to pay $15.5m (£9.6m) in settlement of a legal action in which it was accused of having ­collaborated in the execution of the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the Ogoni tribe of southern Nigeria.

The settlement, reached on the eve of the trial in a federal court in New York, was one of the largest payouts agreed by a ­multinational corporation charged with human rights violations.

So what would happen if i entered a film about Shells involvement in Nigeria I wonder?

It wouldn't get a look in! Grierson awards should be ashamed of accepting Shell blood moneyTruly disappointed